Awning



April 1963 D. MACY ETAL 3,086,260

AWNING Filed Jan. 8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lNvfAlToes:

DONALD MAcY, JOSEPH E. WEAVER, GRANT E. K/voBLAucH,

HTTOEAIEY April 23, 3 D. MACY ETAL 3,086,260

AWNING Filed Jan. .8, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent Ofifice 3,086,260 Patented Apr. 23, 1963 3,086,260 AWNING Donald Macy, Richmond Heights, Joseph F. Weaver, St.

Ann, and Grant E. Knoblauch, St. Louis, Mo., amigoors to Artcraft Venetian Blind Manufacturing Company of St. Louis, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Jan. 8, 1959, Ser. No. 785,670 8 Claims. (Cl. 20-57.5)

The present invention relates to an access awning, and more particularly to an access awning rigidly constructed of metal, while yet preserving ventilating features, beauty of design, and ease of installation.

It is well known that awnings have long been used for doors and windows of buildings. In the beginning such awnings were of cloth or canvas construction. Because it was found that cloth and canvas awnings were easily destructible under normal seasonal weather conditions, the metal awning was introduced. With the introduction of the metal awning, the destructi-bility of the awning was greatly reduced from that of the cloth awning, depending upon the construction of the awning. Indeed, a large variety of such metal awnings have been made available to the public. However, with the advantages of the metal awning over the cloth awning, certain problems also have been manifest. One problem has been the radiation of heat from the metal awning. Metal is known to have high heat conduction properties. Hence the necessity to provide a water-tight construction has resulted in high heating characteristics of the prior art awnings. It is an object of the present invention to provide an awning which is not only of water repellent construction, but is also ventilated for cooling as well.

Many buildings are constructed with rough exterior surfaces, such as of stone, shingle, and clapboard. The installation of metal awnings upon the exterior wall of such a constructed building has often resulted in an awkward, if not impossible, undertaking. Accordingly, it is a further object of this invention to provide a metal awning which is readily adapted for installation upon a rough, as well as smooth, building surface.

As is common with ordinary installations, different size window and door openings require different size awnings. It was found that one piece panel construction provided a highly inflexible awning material. Yet completely articulated panels are expensive. Accordingly, it is another object of the present invention to provide an awning material of highly flexible application wherein various sized installation requirements are encountered, without the expense of the completely articulated slat construction. In the present invention said material comprises separate in terengageable corrugated panels readily adapted to any size installation.

Another important object of the invention is thatit provides an awning that can be made in knock-down form, with all parts substantially flat, so as to facilitate shipment; and that can be assembled and fitted to its opening without great complications.

Other objects of the invention are the provision of an improved metal awning having great strength and which is yet extremely pleasing to the eye. 7

Still other objects will become apparent upon a reading of the description which follows wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view of the improved awning combination embodying this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a left side elevation of the improved awning taken generally along the lines 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a left side section of the upper portion of the awning detailing aspects of the structural assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a left side section of the lower left hand corner of the awning assembly detailing the structural assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a left side section view of the lower right hand portion of the awning showing the structural assembly of the components;

FIGURE 6 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 6-6 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken generally along the lines 7--7 of FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view showing assembly of the roof edge channel and the panel roofing embodied by this invention;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional view showing the assembly of the lock seam square tubing, the lower end of the roof paneling, and the single slat underneath the awning front edge;

FIGURE 10 is a partial perspective view of the hanger strip panel which comprises the upper wall mounting;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective view of the upper corner gusset;

FIGURE 12 is a perspective view of the lower left hand corner gusset;

FIGURE 13 is a partial perspective view of the corrugated ventilation strip;

FIGURE 14 is a top plan view of the lower right hand gusset;

FIGURE 15 is a partial perspective view of the roof edge channel;

FIGURE 16 is a partial perspective view of the back channel, showing an opening for a colored slat;

EIGURE 17 is an end view of a single seven-step panel; an

FIGURE 18 is a partial perspective view of a single step panel adapted for use where space will not permit insertion of a full seven-step panel.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the invention, numeral 21 denotes generally the improved awning in its assembled condition mounted on an access frame 22 by a hanger strip 23 across the top of the frame and a pair of wall brackets 24 on the sides of the frame below the top. The hanger strip 23 has a top panel interlocking rolled portion shown at 25, as in FIGURE 10, so that the awning top will extend continuously from the mounting surface 22.

The awning comprises a top or canopy and two side panels. Each side is formed on a frame that consists essentially of a roof edge channel 26, a top side channel 27, parallel to and below the roof edge channel 26, a bottom channel 28, and a back channel 29. The two sides are'joined at the top by the hanger strip 23, and at the bottom by a square tubing 32 that is connected to the adjacent frame elements in a manner to appear.

The side frameelements are held together by a top gusset plate 30, joining the top side channel 27 and the back channel 29, a back gusset plate 31 joining the bottom channel 28 and the back channel 29, and by a bottom gusset plate 321 joining the top side channel 27 and the bottom channel 28, as will be described hereafter. As can be seen from FIGURE 14, the gusset plate 321 has a flange 323 bent at a right angle thereto. When the gusset 321 is screw-attached to the channels 27 and 28, the flange 323 extends horizontally for a purpose to appear.

Continuing the general description of the improved awning, mounted in each side frame comprising the side channels 27, 28, and 29 is a side panel assembly 33. The two root edge channels 26 open toward each other, and mounted between the roof edge channels 26 is a roof panel assembly, denoted generally at numeral 34, as in FIGURE 3. Extending between the roof channel 26 and the top side channel 27 from the back channel 29 to the bottom side channel 28 is a corrugated ventilation strip 35.

Each roof edge channel 26 is formed with two slightly flaring flanges 36 and 37. The lower flange 37 is extended beyond the flange 36 to present a larger supporting surface for the top panel assembly 34, and to permit an overhang of the top over the sides of the awning. The lower flange has a lead groove 371 on one surface and another lead groove 372 on its opposite surface for assembly purposes, as will appear. The channels are disposed with their channel openings facing each other to receive the top or roof panel assembly 34. The side channels 27, 28 and 29 are disposed with their channel openings facing inwardly to receive the side panel assemblies 33.

The side assemblies 33 and the top panel assembly 34 are each composed of interlocking seven-step panels 38, one of which is shown in FIGURE 17. As can be seen from a reading of FIGURE 17, each of the steps of the seven-step panel 38 comprises an eccentric corrugation 39 having, as viewed in FIGURE 17, a shallow grade slope 40 following by a steeper grade slope 41. The steeper grade slope 41 of each of the steps 39' is followed by a shallow grade slope 40 of the adjacent step 39. At one end of the seven-step panel 38 (as viewed in FIGURE 17, the left end) is a short extended portion 42 followed by a rolled hook portion 43 having its opened end 44 toward the top of the seven-step panel 38. The roll of the hook portion should define an arc of approximately 180. At the opposite end of the seven-step panel 38 "the extreme corrugation 45 terminates in another hook 46, the configuration of which is opposite to the hook 43. Thus, the hook 43 of one panel 38 and the hook 46 of another may either be rocked together, or longitudinally slid together to form a larger continuous panel assembly. Any number of step panels may be attached in this manner, to accumulate a canopy of desired length.

In FIGURE 18 is shown a single-step slat 47, corresponding in cross section to one of the corrugations of the seven-step panel. It has a rolled hook portion 48 corresponding to the hook portion 43- of the panel 38 and a hook portion 49 corresponding to the hook portion 46 of the panel 38. One or more of the single-step slats 47 may be added to a seven-step panel assembly to augment the length of that assembly where the addition of a full seven-step panel would not be expedient for a particular installation requirement. Also the individual slats afford a means for color and design variation, by use of contrasting colors. The resulting construction comprises the side panel assemblies 33 and the top panel assembly 34.

As is shown in the preferred embodiment illustrated, particularly in FIGURE 2, the panel assembly may be cut to coincide with the installation requirements, as along the curved bottom side channel 28 and the therewith merging back channel 29. The side panel assemblies 33 are cut to such a length that the ends thereof will be retained between the flanges of the bottom side channel- 28 and of the back channel 29.

Adjacent the upper edge 50 of each side panel assembly 33 is one of the single slats 47. One end of this single slat is curved to conform to the configuration of the top side channel 27. In the installed condition, the hook 49 of the slat 47 interlocks with a hook 43 of a seven-step panel 38. The slat 47 will normally be of a different color from the remainder of the side panel assembly, thereby presenting a handsome appearance to the completed product.

A unique feature of the improved awning, which emphasizes ease of assembly,-is the arrangement provided for the addition of the single slat 47 to an otherwise completed side panel assembly. It will be readily appreciated that it is desirable to completely assemble a side panel assembly, while leaving the color scheme, and thereby the installation of the colored slat, to the individual order of a customer. To this end, the sides may be manufactured for stock without the feature strip 47. The back channels 29 are cut at 291 so that a slat 47 may slide therethrou-gh. The slat 47 interlocks with the side panel assembly 33 to give a strong construction. Thus, with the panels 33 assembled in each side frame, the colored slat 47 may be added according to the order of the customer. Also, the color scheme may be varied by the single substitution of a slat of one color for one of another color.

Extending between the roof edge channel 26 and disposed between the flanges 36 and 37 thereof is the roof panel assembly 34. In the assembled condition, the hook 43 of a seven-step panel 38 interlocks with the hook 25 of the hanger strip 23. Enough seven-step panels and single slats are connected together to make a top panel assembly 34 of proper size and design.

At the lower end of the roof panel assembly and secured to the square tubing 32 is a single slat 55 having a hook portion 56 interlocked onto the hook of the slat at the bottom of the front of the roof. The single slat 55 serves the twofold purpose of presenting a finished appearance to the underside of the awning and providing a means to attach the lower part of the roof to the frame.

One of the exceptional features of the present improved awning is the flexibility provided in shipment and assembly. A glance at the drawings will immediately show that the channel members comprising the side and top frames, the components of the side and top panels, and the various gusset plates and mounting brackets may in the disassembled condition, be compactly packaged for shipping. Also, the components may be shipped from the factory prior to bending or cutting, as they may be readily shaped and cut in the field.

At the location of assembly, the preparation for installation of the awning will be a relatively simple matter. The channels may be cut and shaped to fit the desired opening. If desired, standardized templates and jigs may be used to supply a large variety of sizes and shapes of awnings or canopies.

In constructing and assembling the awning, the size of a particular installation will first be ascertained. Inasmuch as an optimum roof slope has been established, the desired projection from the wall will determine the length of the roof. That length will then dictate the number of seven-step panels and single slats required for the roof.

The width of the roof will, as shown in FIGURES 6 and 8, be measured from points outside the planned positions of the side assemblies. That width having been determined, all of the panels and slats which are to comprise the roof assembly will be cut accordingly.

As before mentioned, the slope of the roof is established. Consequently, the bend of the roof edge channels 26 has been established and one seven-step panel may be bent by hand to conform approximately to that channel bend.

The hanger strip 23 will be of the same width as the roof assembly, and may be cut to that width.

Since the square tubing 32 is shorter than the width of the roof assembly by the amount of inset of both side assemblies plus the width of both side channels (see FIGURES 5 and 7), the square tubing will be cut to a length determined thereby. A single slat 55 will be cut to the same length as the square tubing 32.

The length of the roof panel assembly will determine the size of the side panel assemblies. Accordingly, it will be useful to provide several side panel templets or patterns for those standard or most frequently used roof sizes. In each case, the appropriate templet may be clamped upon a suitable member of interlocked panels and slats to serve as a guide for the cutting saw. The templet would, of course, be reversed for opposite sides.

The channels may be cut to the proper length by any means known in the art. To assist in ascertaining the proper length, a cutting jig having appropriate steps may be employed.

Bending of the channels may be done conveniently on a tool having the standard curvatures which will prevail on all installations.

The side panels may be assembled with or without the colored slat 47 since the openings 291 will have been cut in the back channels 29. This assembly will involve framing the already interlocked panels and slats with the three side channels 27, 28 and 29. The corner gussets 30 and 31 may then be attached to the insides of their respective channels by self-tapping screws (FIGURES 3 and 4). Also, the gusset 321 may be attached by selftapping screws 322 with the flange 323 directed inwardly toward the opposite side assembly.

With the side panels thus framed, the addition of the colored slat 47 (at a later date) will render any fastening of the panels themselves to the channel frame unnecessary as the flanges of the three channels cooperate to retain the panels and slats therewithin.

The corrugated strips 35 will be cut to a length greater than that of the top channels 27 so that the ends of each strip 35 may be bent around and fastened to the bottom channel 28 by self-tapping screws 351, and to the back channel 29 (see FIGURES 3 and 5) by like screws 352. The corrugated strips may then also be attached to the top side channels 27 by self-tapping screws 353.

The roof edge channels will become a part of the side panel assemblies when attached to the corrugated strips 35. The attachments will be accomplished bydriving self-tapping screws 355 through the locating grooves 371 of the roof channels 26 into the crests of the corrugated strips 35. It will be observed that the groove 371 is in the outstanding lower side 37 of the roof edge channels, so as to be open to use of the screw gun. These selftapping screws 355 will be placed at enough points along each channel 26 to hold the channel in place. They should be located between the edges of the steps of the roof panels in the final assembly, so as not to interfere with assembly of the roof panels. The strips 35, being attached to both the roof edge channels and the top side channels, provide a very strong construction.

The roof panels and slats may he slid one by one into the roof edge channel 26 of one of the side assemblies. It will be noted that a section of the roof may consist of a plurality of colored slats 47 in harmonizing color with the colored slat in the side panel assembly. These panels will easily bend to conform to the curved shape of the preformed roof edge channel 26. The panels may then be secured to the roof edge channel 26, as by selftapping screws 57 placed intermittently along the lead groove 372 of the roof channel 26. These screws can be driven upward from the underside of the awning, and preferably comprise one screw to each panel on each edge channel, located midway of the channel. The roof edge channels overhang the side panels and thus give access to drive these screws.

Finally, the square tubing 32, with its single slat 55, will be installed beneath the roof assembly. The slat 55 is first slid onto the roll of the lowest existing top slat, which is disposed at the very bottom of the roof channels. This leaves the slat 55 free to lie horizontally. The square tubing 32, which is the same length as the slat 55, will span across between the gussets 321, while the slat 55' is turned beneath the gusset ledges. Then screws 324 are passed upwardly through the slat 55, the gussets and the square tubing. A like screw is driven through the middle of the slat 55 and square tubing 61.

It can be seen that the assembled awning presents an attractive structure as well as being of extremely rigid construction. It will be noted that the position of the hanger strip 23 and the wall bracket 24 permit the spacing of the back channel 29 from the wall 22 so that wall surface irregularity will not disturb the mounting of the awning. At the same time, the design of the hanger strip 23 permits easy caulking, which, together with the direct interlock of the hanger strips with the roof panel assembly, provides a continuous water repelling surface from the wall to the front of the awning. The corrugated ventilation strips 35 permit the circulation of air underneath the awning thereby providing a greatly cooled area thereunder compared to conventional non-ventilated awnings, and adds greatly to the strength of the awning.

As will be appreciated, the foregoing is intended to be illustrative only of the invention; whereas various modifications and changes will be apparent inasmuch as the scope of the invention is to be defined exclusively by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

An awning having a roof panel and side panels, approximate but separated from the roof panel, a frame for each said side panel and for said roof panel, each side panel frame comprising a bottom channel, a wall channel and a top channel, each attached to the others, said bottom channel and said wall channel each extending to a point beyond its attachment to said top channel, said roof panel frame comprising two oppositely disposed roof channels, the extensions on said wall and bottom channels providing bearing points for the support of said roof channels, and means for holding the roof channels against those bearing points, the space between the separated roof panel and each side panel being thus bonded by a top channel, a roof channel and the extensions of a bottom and a Wall channel, the roof panel and the side panels each comprising several interlocking stepped sections, each of said side panels including a single step panel of different color from said stepped sections adjacent and slidingly interlockingly engageable with a stepped section, said wall channels each having a hole cut therethrough to permit the removal of said single step panels when it is desired to change the color thereof.

2. The awning of claim 1 wherein means including a hanger strip having a length substantially equal to the width of the roof panel are provided for installing the awning in spaced relationship to a mounting surface, in which the hanger strip includes a portion interlocking with said roof panel to provide a roof continuous from said mounting surface.

3. The awning of claim 2 in which said roof panel is attached through mesne connections to each said bottom channel to provide a roof continuous from said mounting surface to a plane composed of said bottom channels.

4. An awning comprising a pair of support assemblies; a pair of side panel assemblies; and a roof panel assembly; said support assemblies each comprising a plurality of first flanged channel members including a top channel member; each plurality of first channel members being joined to form a frame for one of said side panel assemblies wherein an edge of said side panel assembly is disposed within the flanged portion of each first channel member; said support assemblies each further including a second flanged channel member substantially parallel to and spaced from the top channel member wherein an edge of said roof panel assembly is disposed within the flanged portion of said second channel member; said roof panel assembly being separated from said side panel assemblies by a pair of spacing members disposed between the top channel members and the second channel members and extending substantially the length of said roof panel assembly, but making only intermittent contact with said top and second channel members, means for fastening the spacing members to the top channel members and the second channel members at predetermined ones of the points of contact; said spacing members being shaped so as to resist bending under forces perpendicular to a side assembly; said awning being mountable upon a surface with most of said awning being spaced from said surface, the space between the top channel members and the second channel members being open except for the spacing members.

5. The awning of claim 4 wherein the side panel assemblies and the roof panel assembly each comprise a plurality of corrugated interlocking sections and said sections comprise a plurality of sixes thereby providing ready adaptability to different sized installation requireaosazeo 7- ments and wherein the spacing members are corrugated metal strips.

6. The awning of claim 5 wherein the flanged portion of said second channel member is composed of two flanges, the lowermost extending inwardly beneath the roof panel assembly further than the uppermost to provide a greater supporting surface for said roof panel assembly when said awning is in an installed condition.

7. The awning of claim 6 wherein each of said side panel assemblies includes a slat of different color from the remainder of said side panel assemblies, removably interlockable with an adjacent section and wherein each of said first flanged channel members includes a member having a cutaway portion adjacent to an end of the colored slat, the cutaway portions being of a size to permit the removal or insertion of said slat.

8. The awning of claim 6 wherein the roof panel assembly is fastened to each of the second channel members 8-, by means of screws through thc panel assembly and the lowermost flanges of the second channel members, the beads of the screws being accessible from the top of the roof panel assembly and being positioned inward of the uppermost flanges of the second channel members.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 175,543 Godden Sept. 13, 1955 1,176,080 Miller Mar. 21, 1916 1, 79,339 Raper Apr. 6, 1926 1,893,659 Stack Jan. 10, 1933 2,647,291 Russell Aug. 4, 1953 2,830,334 Schroyer Apr. 15, 1958 2,847,728 Shinall Aug. 19, 1953 2,867,273 Brennan et al. Jan. 6, 1959 2,871,525 Butler Feb. 3, 1959 

1. AN AWNING HAVING A ROOF PANEL AND SIDE PANELS, APPROXIMATE BUT SEPARATED FROM THE ROOF PANEL, A FRAME FOR EACH SAID SIDE PANEL AND FOR SAID ROOF PANEL, EACH SIDE PANEL FRAME COMPRISING A BOTTOM CHANNEL, A WALL CHANNEL AND A TOP CHANNEL, EACH ATTACHED TO THE OTHERS, SAID BOTTOM CHANNEL AND SAID WALL CHANNEL EACH EXTENDING TO A POINT BEYOND ITS ATTACHMENT TO SAID TOP CHANNEL, SAID ROOF PANEL FRAME COMPRISING TWO OPPOSITELY DISPOSED ROOF CHANNELS, THE EXTENSIONS ON SAID WALL AND BOTTOM CHANNELS PROVIDING BEARING POINTS FOR THE SUPPORT OF SAID ROOF CHANNELS, AND MEANS FOR HOLDING THE ROOF CHANNELS AGAINST THOSE BEARING POINTS, THE SPACE BETWEEN THE SEPARATED ROOF PANEL AND EACH SIDE PANEL BEING THUS BONDED BY A TOP CHANNEL, A ROOF CHANNEL AND THE EXTENSIONS OF A BOTTOM AND A WALL CHANNEL, THE ROOF PANEL AND THE SIDE PANELS EACH COMPRISING SEVERAL INTERLOCKING STEPPED SECTIONS, EACH OF SAID SIDE PANELS INCLUDING A SINGLE STEP PANEL OF DIFFERENT COLOR FROM SAID STEPPED SECTIONS ADJACENT AND SLIDINGLY INTERLOCKINGLY ENGAGEABLE WITH A STEPPED SECTION, SAID WALL CHANNELS EACH HAVING A HOLE CUT THERETHROUGH TO PERMIT THE REMOVAL OF SAID SINGLE STEP PANELS WHEN IT IS DESIRED TO CHANGE THE COLOR THEREOF. 